March news: Democracy residencies, digital platform ratings and new teammates

In this month’s issue:

2023 Digital Participation Platform Ratings
$3 million in foundation funding
Democracy Residencies
Two new team members
Call for mentees
Featured resources
What we’re reading
Upcoming events
Funding opportunities
What to do

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Check out the 2023 Digital Participation Platform Ratings

We just updated our ratings of online participation tools, which are becoming increasingly essential as trust in government declines and public engagement offers an antidote. In 2023, our expert review committee assessed six new platforms, bringing the total to 32.

We offer guidance on choosing toolbox platforms that support all types of participatory processes, specific platforms that focus on specific phases of participation, and specialty platforms designed for a particular kind of process, such as participatory budgeting. Decide what type of platform you need, then select a couple to evaluate yourself based on our criteria, such as cost and ease of use.

Read an introductory blog post that explains how to use the ratings, and offers examples of how the top-three-rated platforms have been used in different contexts.
Explore the ratings themselves.
Read an interview with two of our expert reviewers about the trends they’re watching, and that you should too.

People Powered receives $3 million from three foundations to accelerate the use of participatory democracy to address global challenges

*A meeting of the thematic inquiry on lead contamination in Georgia.*

The Waverley Street Foundation, Open Society Foundations and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation have committed a cumulative $3 million to enable our staff and members to support more than 70 governments as they launch or improve participatory initiatives, using our accelerator programs.

Read more about the funding and our plans for maximizing impact.

Read about the funding

‘Democracy residencies’ bring organizations together for joint projects

To help individuals and organization learn from each other and grow participatory democracy in their countries, People Powered and Extituto de Política Abierta (Colombia) just kicked off a new program called “democracy residencies.” Experts from 12 organizations are collaborating with six host groups to develop projects ranging from a platform for youth engagement to a democracy summer school. In-person visits by the residents to the hosts will begin soon.

Read about the residencies

Meet our two new team members

We’ve just hired a fundraising manager and resource fellow! Learn about their diverse backgrounds, and their answers to some questions that are both fun and enlightening.

*Lize Mogel, fundraising manager, and Maria Lucien, resource fellow*

Meet the new team members

Call for mentees: Get support to launch or improve your participatory program!

If you’re a government employee/official or civil society advocate who could benefit from expert coaching to help launch or improve public participation, we have just the service for you!

Rising Stars is an online mentorship program that matches individuals seeking guidance (mentees) to on-the-ground experts who can address questions (mentors).

We periodically accept new applicants, and now is the time! Apply by April 4.

Apply for expert support

Participatory data collection methodology for disability-inclusive city profile. Based on a participatory process in Solo, Indonesia, this guide is for anyone who wants to create a more inclusive city through the use of data.
Democracy beyond elections: participatory policymaking model. This model is designed to work in a variety of policymaking contexts and to give community members real decision-making power that is equitable, accessible and significant.
Should we draw lots for fairer elections? This video traces the history of the use of lot-drawing to make political decisions, from Athens to Renaissance Italy to the present day.